Method for the impact or shot evaluation in a shooting range and shooting range

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method for evaluating electronic impacts or shots of fired shots in a shooting range for sportsmen and for hunter training. The target to be shot at is provided as a light spot and is projected onto a target wall ( 1 ) via a light source in such a way that said target can move in all directions. An infrared camera ( 7 ) records the shooting image on the target wall ( 1 ) for evaluating the impact. The aim of the invention is to increase accuracy and reduce the evaluation time. Target co-ordinates arm detected while the target is being provided. Said target coordinates arm compared to the impact co-ordinates obtained by means of the impact evaluation. An impact is signalled when an impact falls short of a given divergence.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method for electronic hit or shot evaluationof shots fired in a firing range for recreational shooting and hunttraining, in which the target to be shot at is projected, on to a targetwall as target output, via a light source as a bright spot movable inall directions and, for evaluating hits, an infrared camera produces arecord of the shot image on the target wall, and relates to a firingrange.

A method of this kind and firing range, is known from DE 37 29 613 C2.With this, the target wall is photographed by an infrared camera and,before the shot is fired, its image is written as a digital signal intothe memory of a computer, in which it is available as a gray scalevalue, arranged in lines and columns. The coordinates of the light spotappearing on the target wall, as well as the image generated of theshot-at target wall after the shot has been fired, are stored in thecomputer and the gray scale values of the two images are then linked toone another. The coordinates of the changes established during linkingare compared with the coordinates of the light spot at the time of thefiring of the shot and the position of the shot at the target isdetermined.

A significant disadvantage of this firing range related to evaluationwith an infrared camera is that, in this method a thermal image isregarded as an unchangeable static variable, however, this is not thecase. A camera operating in a thermal range supplies a chronologicallychanging signal. The impacting low pulse energy soon disappears owing tothe “self-generation” of the wall. A comparison of this kind istherefore completely unnecessary and can even lead to erroneousinterpretation if the wall is not located immediately before the impactof the ammunition. However, this could be carried out only with severalfixed infrared cameras, as the resolution of one camera for a targetwall of typically more than 30 m distant is too low. The use of severalinfrared cameras is not possible on grounds of cost. Even with a movingcamera this method cannot photograph the wall immediately afteractuation of the acoustic switch and also before impact of theammunition. To implement this the camera would have to stop moving inless than 78 ms and also file the image in the memory before the shot.This time is still essentially relatively short taking intoconsideration that the camera records the ammunition moving towards thewall much earlier.

The stated time relates to a slow small shot cartridge with a speed ofV_(o)=400 m/s and a V₂₅ of 240 m/s at a distance of 25 m. Thepositioning of a moving camera with respect to a part surface of thewall required for evaluation and accuracy requires the photographing ofmany individual images. Because of the change in these individual imageswith time, in the comparison procedure the memory would first have to beupdated before each new shot. One of these positions would first have tobe covered after the firing, in order to achieve the necessarycoincidence of the takes in this method. The evaluation time thereforealso becomes longer by the travelling time taken to reach the next partsurface. The evaluation time is therefore slower not only because of thelarger amount of data, but also owing to the panning time. This meansthat the marksman cannot fire a second shot in quick succession if hemisses. However, this is an important feature for the marksman. Inaddition larger intervals arise between each firing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore the object underlying the invention is to indicate a methodand firing range for electronic hit or shot evaluation of shots fired ina firing range for recreational shooting and hunt training, in which thetarget to be shot at is projected onto a target wall as target outputvia a light source movable in all directions and, for hit evaluation, aninfrared camera produces a shot image on the target wall, with whichboth great accuracy is achieved and evaluation time is reduced to suchan extent that the marksman can fire two shots in succession withoutdetriment.

According to the invention, this object with respect to the method, isachieved by recording the target coordinates at the same time as thetarget output, comparing these target coordinates with the hitcoordinates obtained from the hit evaluation, and signaling a hit ifthey are below a predetermined divergence.

According to the invention, the above-mentioned object is achieved, withrespect to the firing range, by the shooting range containing a devicefor measuring the heat pulses generated by the shot, with which the heatpulses generated by the heat build-up of the hits on the target well areimmediately recorded as hit coordinates, and hit evaluation takes placein the evaluation device by comparing the target coordinates with thehit coordinates.

One advantage of this process and the firing range, inter alia, is thatbecause of the lack of coincidence of the two photographs, before andafter the shot, the mechanics can be far simpler. A small amount ofovershooting at the time of taking the photograph can even be tolerated.This also makes the stopping time even shorter. Additionally a saving oftime results because the amount of data to be processed is smaller.

Advantageously the target is stored in a control device in the form oftarget vectors or target coordinates and the target output is controlledby this control device via the light source. This means that the exactcoordinates of the target are predetermined and known. A computer, forexample, or else only a special insert card for a computer is suitableas control device. This can independently actuate the target outputautomatically, i.e. without involvement of the computer. In this way,after a shot has been fired, the target can continue to be outputtedduring the evaluation time (in a range of milliseconds) and actionfollows only after determining the result.

A laser is preferably used according to the invention as light source.For projection, the laser beam is directed on to a horizontally andvertically adjustable mirror, which diverts the laser beam and thereforethe target on to the target wall. The movement of the mirror iscontrolled by the control device using the target coordinates. As amirror is very light there are practically no errors in projection. Asimple calibration to correlate the target coordinates with the mirrormovement is sufficient.

The laser beam and therefore the target can naturally have any suitableshape and represent, for example, a hare or a pigeon. By modulation ofthe outline the motif also moves appropriately.

In a preferred embodiment, the infrared camera is arranged on avertically and horizontally adjustable turntable, the movement of whichis controlled by the control device as a function of the targetcoordinates. As, after the shot has been fired, a short time elapsesuntil the shot hits the target wall, the movement of the turntable canbe controlled in such a way that it takes this into account.Advantageously a certain lead is set.

Evaluation with a panning infrared line camera is a further embodiment.This camera is arranged in such a way that the line elements photographa perpendicular line of the wall from top to bottom. After a smallrotational movement which is aligned to the pulses per angle, one columnis read in at a time by a pulse generator arranged on the horizontalaxis. The reading in of a line/column lasts only microseconds. Onecolumn is therein written into the memory in one operation. The area isre-composed in the memory. The advantage of this arrangement is that theresolution is dependent only on the number of pulses per angle. It istherefore possible to achieve higher resolutions than with area cameras.Neither is the camera stopped to photograph a column, but goes onmoving. Additionally the second rotational axis of the mirror isdispensed with. The range in which the marksman can miss, and yet acorrect evaluation is possible, can therefore be greater because anynumber of columns can be read out. The only limitation is the computer'smemory. Moreover, the evaluation time becomes longer.

According to the invention the infrared camera photographs the image ofthe shot after the shot has been fired and the digitalised image of theshot is evaluated in an evaluation device. As the movement of theturntable and therefore of the infrared camera is controlled by thecontrol device, the coordinates are known. On firing, the shot particles(small shot or individual bullet) hit the target wall and generate heatpulses there. These heat pulses are photographed by the infrared cameraand allocated to the hit coordinates.

Advantageously the target wall is a steel wall which has not been clad.

Calibration of the infrared camera is advantageously carried out withthe aid of two markers outside the target wall. A property of the markeris that it must be able to give off heat. Any incandescent or halogenlamp is suitable. The marker can be detected by an infrared camera toalign the central positions, with both mechanical alignment by precisionadjustment and electronic calculation of the error position beingpossible.

If the laser is adjusted to the markers in a similar way by adjustingthe intensification and offset of the mirrors, these can be determinedeven without optical checking of the laser position. If, for example,the marker is placed exactly in the centre of the camera aperture and ifthe above process has been correctly carried out, there is in eachpositions a direct connection between the deflecting voltage of thegalvanometers associated with the laser, which are responsible for themirror adjustment, and the voltage output on to the turntable. If thelatter voltage is different this corresponds to an angle or a divergencefrom the position (an example: 0.01 volts correspond to 0.1 m on thewall). After a shot has been fired the camera moving forward stops.After, for example, 78 ms, which is the time that passes until the shotreaches the wall, the voltage on the rotating mirrors is digitally oranalogously determined, as is the voltage responsible for guiding outthe camera. If the divergence is, e.g. 0.01 volts on the horizontalaxis, the laser dot is located, depending on the sign, exactly at this0.1 m from the adjustment position.

The method and the firing range can, however, also be supplemented by amechanically coupled optical camera, aligned in a similar way. This caneither also determine the laser dot from the wall directly at the timethe infrared camera takes its photograph or act as automatic check andmonitoring of the correct adjustment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Further features of the invention emerge from the single FIGURE, whichschematically shows the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This FIGURE shows a target wall 1 of an approximate length of 42 m. Theheight is 3.50 m. In front of the target wall 1 is mounted anarrangement for the method of the invention, which arrangement isillustrated here only by way of example and schematically. The referencenumeral 2 designates a laser.

The laser beam generated therein is directed via a movable mirror 3 onto the target wall 1 and there generates the target image, e.g. arunning hare or a flying pigeon. An infrared camera 7 and a video camera8 are arranged on a horizontally and vertically movable turntable 6.

The target coordinates are stored in a control device 4 in the form of achronological sequence. The control device 4 then controls the mirror 3and the turntable 6 and, during controlling, forwards the targetcoordinates to an evaluation device 5. The signals from the infraredcamera 7 also arrive in this evaluation device 5. Since the coordinatesof the target image are known, the coordinates of the image of theinfrared camera 7 are also known. Thus both the target coordinates andthe hit coordinates are present. If a predetermined divergence is notreached, a hit is signalled, e.g. on a monitor 9. An input device isdesignated by the reference numeral 10. As described, the video camera 8on the turntable 6 serves to calibrate the shooting range.

It can be advantageous to work out the hit coordinates from twosuccessive photographs of the shot image with special infrared cameras.

As an example of this, the first photograph of the shot image is takenat the time of the impact of the hit and the second photograph 0.033seconds later. The two photographs show a temperature difference. Thiscan be involved in working out the hit coordinates.

1. Method for electronic hit or shot evaluation of shots fired in afiring range for recreational shooting and hunt training, comprisingprojecting a target to be shot at on to a target wall as target outputvia a light source movable in all directions, conducting a hitevaluation by producing a photograph of the shot image of heat pulsesgenerated by at least one shot particle hitting the target wall with aninfrared camera, recording target coordinates at the same time as thetarget output, comparing the target coordinates with the hit coordinatesobtained from the hit evaluation, and signaling a hit if the targetcoordinates and the hit coordinates are below a predetermineddivergence.
 2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the target is storedin a control device in the form of target vectors or target coordinatesand the target output is controlled by this control device via the lightsource.
 3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the light source is alaser.
 4. Method according to claim 1, wherein the infrared camera isarranged on an adjustable turntable, the movement of which is controlledby the control device as a function of the target coordinates.
 5. Methodaccording to claim 4, wherein, for calibrating the movement of theturntable or the hit coordinates, a video camera is additionallyarranged on the turntable via which the coordinates of predeterminedtargets on the target wall are recorded.
 6. Method according to claim 1,wherein, after the shot has been fired, the infrared camera photographsthe shot image to produce a digitized shot image and the digitized shotimage is evaluated in an evaluation device, wherein the heat pulsesgenerated by the heat buildup of the hits on the target wall areallocated to the hit coordinates.
 7. Method according to claim 1,wherein the infrared camera is a line camera.
 8. Method according toclaim 1, wherein the hit coordinates are evaluated from two successivephotographs of the shot image.
 9. Method for electronic hit or shotevaluation of shots fired in a firing, range for recreational shootingand hunt training, comprising projecting a target to be shot at on to atarget wall made of steel as target output via a light source movable inall directions, conducting a hit evaluation by producing a photograph ofthe shot image of heat pulses generated by at least one shot particlehitting the target wall with an infrared camera, recording targetcoordinates at the same time as the target output comparing the targetcoordinates with the hit coordinates obtained from the hit evaluation,and signaling a hit if the target coordinates and the hit coordinatesare below a predetermined divergence.
 10. Method according to claim 9,wherein the at least one shot particle comprises small shot particles.11. Method according to claim 9, wherein the at least one shot particlecomprises an individual bullet.
 12. Firing range for electronic hit orshot evaluation of shots fired, comprising: a target wall; a lightsource, movable in all directions, for generating the target to be shotat according to target coordinates; a device for measuring heat pulsesgenerated by the shot, with which the heat pulses generated by the heatbuild-up of the hits of at least one shot particle on the target wallare immediately recorded as hit coordinates; and an evaluation devicefor comparing the target coordinates with the hit coordinates. 13.Firing range according to claim 12, wherein the device for measuring theheat pulses generated by the shot is an infrared camera.
 14. Firingrange according to claim 13, wherein the infrared camera is arranged onan adjustable turntable, the movement of which is controlled by acontrol device as a function of the target coordinates.
 15. Firing rangeaccording to claim 14, wherein, for calibrating the movement of theturntable or the hit coordinates, a video camera by means of which thecoordinates of predetermined targets on the target wall are recorded, isarranged on the turntable.
 16. Firing range according to claim 13,wherein, after the shot has been fired, the infrared camera photographsthe shot image to produce a digitized shot image and the digitized shotimage is evaluated in the evaluation device, with the heat pulsesgenerated by the heat buildup of the hits on the target wall beingallocated to the hit coordinates.
 17. Firing range according to claim13, wherein the infrared camera records the tilt coordinates byphotographing two successive shot images.
 18. Firing range according toclaim 12, wherein the target is stored in a control device in the formof target vectors or target coordinates and the control device controlsthe target via the light source.
 19. Firing range according to claim 12,wherein the light source is a laser.
 20. Firing range according to claim12, wherein the infrared camera is a line camera.
 21. Firing range forelectronic hit or shot evaluation of shots fired, comprising: a targetwall made of steel; a light source movable in all directions forgenerating the target to be shot at according to target coordinates; adevice for measuring heat pulses generated by the shot, with which theheat pulses generated by the heat build-up of the hits of at least oneshot particle on the target wall are immediately recorded as hitcoordinates; and an evaluation device for comparing the targetcoordinates with the hit coordinates.
 22. Firing range according toclaim 21, wherein the at least one shot particle comprises small shotparticles.
 23. Firing range according to claim 21, wherein the at leastone shot comprises an individual bullet.